Carbon number correlation of overall rate constant of pyrolysis of n-alkanes

The global model for the pyrolysis of n-alkanes (n-C₃ - n-C₃₂) in a wide range of reaction conditions (572-973 K, 6.86 x 10^-3-2.72 M) was proposed. The model considered the five elementary reaction groups, such as initiation, isomerization, β-scission, H abstraction, and termination. Experiments were conducted using flow type apparatus, the concentration was estimation from the reaction pressure and temperature by Peng-Robinson EOS. The new model for overall rate constant of n-alkane pyrolysis based on Kossiakoff and Rice theory, took the carbon number dependence of alkyl radical for the rate constant of bimolecular reactions into account. The model can express the experimental overall rate constant of n-alkanes at wide array of temperatures and concentrations and could explain previously reported carbon number correlation of pyrolysis rate.